Madagascar

Madagascar,^{[lower-alpha 1]} officially the Republic of Madagascar,^{[lower-alpha 2]} is an island country comprising the island of Madagascar and numerous smaller peripheral islands. Lying off the southeastern coast of Africa, it is the world's fourth largest island, the second-largest island country and the 46th largest country in the world.^[14] Its capital and largest city is Antananarivo.

This article is about the island nation. For the island itself, see Geography of Madagascar. For the film franchise, see Madagascar (franchise). For other uses, see Madagascar (disambiguation).

Republic of Madagascar Repoblikan'i Madagasikara (Malagasy) République de Madagascar (French)
Flag Seal
Motto:  Fitiavana, Tanindrazana, Fandrosoana (Malagasy) Amour, Patrie, Progrès (French) "Love, Fatherland, Progress"[1]
Anthem: Ry Tanindrazanay malala ô! (Malagasy) Ô Terre de nos ancêtres bien-aimés! (French) "Oh, land of our beloved ancestors!"
Location of Madagascar (dark green)
Capital and largest city	Antananarivo 18°55′S 47°31′E
Official languages	Malagasy • French
Ethnic groups (2017)[2]	26% Merina 15% Betsimisaraka 12% Betsileo 7% Tsimihety 6% Sakalava 5% Antaisaka 5% Antandroy 24% others
Religion (2020)[3]	84.7% Christianity 45.8% Protestantism 38.1% Catholicism 0.8% other Christian 7.3% no religion 4.7% traditional faiths 3.1% Islam 0.3% others
Demonym(s)	Malagasy[4][5]
Government	Unitary semi-presidential republic
• President	Andry Rajoelina
• Prime Minister	Christian Ntsay
Legislature	Parliament
• Upper house	Senate
• Lower house	National Assembly
Formation
• Kingdom[6]	c. 1540
• French colony[7]	6 August 1896
• Republic proclaimed	14 October 1958
• Declaration of independence	26 June 1960
Area
• Total	592,796[8] km2 (228,880 sq mi) (46th)
• Water	5,501 km2 (2,124 sq mi)
• Water (%)	0.9%
Population
• 2024 estimate	31,964,956[9] (49th)
• Density	55/km2 (142.4/sq mi)
GDP (PPP)	2023 estimate
• Total	$56.754 billion[10] (117th)
• Per capita	$1,906[10] (182nd)
GDP (nominal)	2023 estimate
• Total	$15.763 billion[10] (139th)
• Per capita	$529[10] (188th)
Gini (2012)	42.6[11] medium inequality
HDI (2022)	0.487[12] low (177th)
Currency	Ariary (MGA)
Time zone	UTC+3 (EAT)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+3 (not observed[13])
Date format	dd/mm/yyyy
Drives on	right
Calling code	+261[13]
ISO 3166 code	MG
Internet TLD	.mg

Following the prehistoric breakup of the supercontinent Gondwana, Madagascar split from Africa during the Early Jurassic, around 180 million years ago, and split from the Indian subcontinent around 90 million years ago,^[15] allowing native plants and animals to evolve in relative isolation; consequently, it is a biodiversity hotspot and one of the world's 17 megadiverse countries, with over 90% of wildlife being endemic. The island has a subtropical to tropical maritime climate. Madagascar was first settled during or before the mid-first millennium AD by